Language/Wolof/Grammar/Plural-Nouns-—-Definite-articles
The definite article is a grammatical terminology that refers to the English “the,” and the difference from the English is that it comes after the noun. In singular, we have many of them. In plural form, we have:
Ñi
This article is meant for a very limited number of nouns referring mainly to people.
Singular & Plural
- Nit ki = the person
- Nit ñi = (the) people
- Gòor gi = the man
- Gòor ñi = (the) men
- Jigéen ji = the woman
- Jigéen ñi = (the) women
- Magg gi = the adult
- Magg ñi = (the) adults
- Magget gi = the old person
- Magget ñi = (the) old people
- Ndaw li = the young person
- Ndaw ñi = (the) young people
Note
you may encounter someone saying “ndaw si” in the singular form but that refers to a particular girlfriend or woman and has not a commonly used plural. bL Yi: any other noun you take it plural definite article will be “yi”. Singular Plural Xale bi = the kid xale yi = the kids Garab gi = the tree garab yi = the trees Taabal bi = the table taabal yi = the tables
Yi
Any other noun you take it plural definite article will be “yi”.
Singular & Plural
- Xale bi = the kid
- xale yi = the kids
- Garab gi = the tree
- garab yi = the trees
- Taabal bi = the table
- taabal yi = the tables
Source
http://publish.illinois.edu/wolof201fall14/files/2014/08/NEW_WOLOF_BOOK.pdf
Other lessons: Plural Nouns > Definite | Plural Nouns > Indefinite